PJHL Roundup: Braves player wins all-star game award

New Hamburg Firebirds’ defenceman TJ Cleminson jousts with Tavistock Braves defender Ryan McKellar during the Firebirds’ 6-2 win over Tavistock on Jan. 10. Alec Richard photo

By Lee Griffi

Tavistock Braves forward Yann Raskin stole the show at the Provincial Junior Hockey League’s (PJHL) South Division All-Star Game on Sunday afternoon.

The Doherty Division outscored the Bloomfield Division 10-7 as the 20-year-old Cambridge native earned Player of the Game honours after scoring three times and adding a pair of assists. Raskin leads the Braves in scoring with 55 points in 28 regular-season games.

Two other Braves participated in the game with Evan Palubeski scoring once and adding two helpers while Ryan McKellar was held off the scoresheet.

New Hamburg’s Jordan Jacobs picked up a goal while teammate Ben Oliver was scoreless. Firebirds goalie Deklan Jermol stopped 20 of the 23 shots he faced in just over 30 minutes of play. Ian Speiran had a goal and an assist to lead the Wellesley contingent at the game while Riley Noble added an assist.

As a result of the win, the Doherty Division champion will have home-ice advantage in the South Conference final series.

“It was a privilege and honour to host here for a second year,” said Braves general manager Brent Lange.

“There is a lot of work that goes into this, but we have a great executive. Our staff have done a lot of work in the last week to make this happen. It is a lot of work but it’s great for the PJHL All-Stars to be here and have fun. They’ve earned it.”

The league’s South Conference Manager, Steve Sumka, said the Tavistock organization should be commended for hosting another successful event.

“I made it a point to try to talk to as many volunteers from the Braves just after the game started. From president Steve Hohl, Brent (Lange), Dakota Pletsch, everyone I talked to, I made it a point to personally thank them for being here because this is three games in three days for the volunteer group.”

He added he wouldn’t hesitate to come back to Tavistock for next year’s all-star game, if needed.

“The guys jumped in with both feet. The level between myself and Brent; there are no complaints at all.”

Tavistock split a pair of regular-season games before hosting the all-star tilt. The weekend kicked off with a 5-2 home-ice win over division-leading Woodstock on Friday. Raskin scored twice for the Braves with Ethan Stover and Palubeski adding two points each. Tyler Brezynski and Nolan Miller scored single markers for Tavistock, who outshot the Navy Vets 45-28.

On Saturday, the Braves hosted New Hamburg and found themselves on the losing end of a 6-2 game. The Firebirds led 1-0 after 20 minutes but outscored Tavistock 4-2 in the second to take a 5-2 lead into the third frame. 10 Firebirds players hit the scoresheet, led by Ben Oliver’s three points, followed by two-point performances by Jayden Fischer and Jack MacDonald.

New Hamburg travelled to Norwich on Friday night and blew away the Merchants by an 8-4 margin. Oliver led the way with three goals and an assist while Owen Bruder added a hat-trick. Stephen Peppas and Kayden Livingston had three assists each as the Firebirds now sit just five points behind first-place Woodstock with two games in hand.

Wellesley also inched closer to top spot in the Doherty Division with a pair of weekend victories, starting with a 4-2 win over Hespeler at home Friday. The game was tied at two early in the third before goals by Speiran and Ryan Brenton sealed the win for the Applejacks.

Wellesley handed Norwich its second straight loss with a 6-4 victory on home ice Saturday. Brenton and Hudson Parker led the offence with four points each.